Flint Beecher halts USAs post-season journey in OT

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, March 3, 2008

BAD AXE  All the ingredients were there for another down-to-the-wire victory for Unionville-Sebewaing Area.

By MIKE BOGAN

BAD AXE  All the ingredients were there for another down-to-the-wire victory for Unionville-Sebewaing Area.

Flint Beecher didn't let it happen.

The Bucs, still smarting from a devastating overtime loss in last year's regional final, weren't about to let the Patriots party again here Monday night, stealing the show down the stretch in a 61-57 overtime win in this Class C regional semifinal showdown.

The 16-7 Bucs advance to Wednesday's regional final against 14-9 Saginaw Nouvel, a winner over Brown City in the other semifinal contest.

"We lost to Bath last year in overtime in the regional finals," said Beecher coach Mike Williams. "And we gave that game to them. So that's been in our minds all year long. We didn't want to let it happen again."

Here Monday night, it almost did happen. The Patriots rallied from a five-point deficit with 2:10 to play in regulation. Two free throws with 15.7 seconds left, and then one huge last-second defensive stand, helped the Patriots force OT. From there, though, Beecher took over, outscoring USA 8-4 in the extra four-minute period, including a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line.

"We were right there," said USA coach Mark Gainforth. "You lose in overtime, it's a tough feeling. A lot of possessions, here or there, it could have went the other way.

But you have to give credit to their pressure (defense). That probably was the difference.

Though the Patriots did an adequate job breaking Beecher's super-quick press, every miscue seemed to turn into points for the Bucs.

"We knew our advantage would be our foot speed," Williams said. "If we could stay in front of them, switch players and defenses, we figured we might be able to wear them out."

The Patriots didn't look tired at all in the final few moments of the fourth quarter. Trailing 49-44, 51-47 and 53-49 late, USA managed to tie the game. A tip-in from Kelson Gettel with 32.1 seconds left, combined with Brandon Bitzer's two free throws, sent the game to overtime.

In OT, Beecher won the tip and ran nearly two minutes off the clock before USA was forced to defend. A Taron Boose layup gave the Bucs the lead for good at 55-53 with 1:05 to play.

"I don't think (them pulling it out) hurt us," Gainforth said. "We needed the rest. That was the time when they broke us down off the dribble, but that's going to happen when you come out and get them."

After a USA free throw, Simuel Overall hit two free throws of his own, giving Beecher a 57-54 edge with 42.8 seconds left.

After a timeout, USA set up a play to go for the tie, but Janero Walker picked off a pass and was fouled with 14.9 seconds left.

"I thought we had a pretty good play designed to tie it, but we didn't execute," Gainforth said. "We had (Taylor) Cramer on the other side open, but it kind of broke down."

Walker drilled the two free throws for a 59-54 advantage. After another USA miss, Boose sealed the deal with two more tosses with 5.5 seconds to play. Boose and Overall were the Beecher workhorses, scoring 18 points each. Walker added 13 points, and was a defensive nuisance all night long for the USA ball handlers.

"Their quickness hurt us, but you have to expect that," Gainforth said. "At the most inopportune times, we just turned it over. Just when you think you're feeling OK about where you're going, they're going the other way with a turnover."

Bitzer paced the Patriots with 20 points while Tim Holland added 17. Gainforth felt his team could have used Holland's presence in the paint even more.

"Instead of attacking, our problem was that when we broke the pressure, we'd seem to pass back into it," he said. "We had Tim open down low, but when you have two guys on you like that, it's tough.

"You can work on that kind of trapping and those other things, but until you see it for real, it's not the same."

Beecher's pressure didn't hurt the Patriots early on. USA led 14-11 after one quarter, and held an eight-point cushion with 5:35 left before break, before the Bucs sliced the gap to 25-23 at half.

"I thought it was basically a deadlock at halftime," Gainforth said. "They had their run, but we didn't let it get away from us. Being up two, I thought we were in good shape."

A perfect 6-of-6 from the line in the third quarter helped USA hold a 38-35 edge heading to the final period.

"Maybe at that point we were getting tired," Gainforth said. "They were rotating guys in and out, and we don't have that luxury. We probably were one ball handler short against a team like that…"